Kazakhstan Overhauls Digital Investment Platform, Eyes $400 Billion by 2029
ALMATY – Kazakhstan will form an updated and verified pool of investment projects within its National Digital Investment Platform by April 1 to improve transparency and the effectiveness of state support measures, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said at a Feb. 17 government meeting. Bektenov assigned the Kazakh Invest national company to carry out the task…
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia Deepen Strategic Partnership During Official Visit to Riyadh
ALMATY – Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia signed intergovernmental agreements on the promotion and mutual protection of investments and the establishment of a Kazakhstan–Saudi Arabia Coordination Council during Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev’s official visit to Saudi Arabia on Feb. 17. The centerpiece of the visit was negotiations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al…
Kazakhstan’s Ski Jumper Finishes 8th at Winter Olympics, Sets National Record
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s ski jumper Ilya Mizernykh delivered the best Olympic result in the country’s history, finishing eighth in the men’s large hill event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Feb. 15. Two athletes represented Kazakhstan in the competition’s final round. Mizernykh scored 281.6 points to place eighth among the world’s elite, while…
Kazakhstan’s Assaubayeva Secures Historic Qualification for 2026 Women’s Freestyle Chess Championship
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk in a women’s exhibition match held alongside the Freestyle Chess World Championship in Germany, becoming the first player to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Freestyle Chess World Championship. The four-game match, played in the Fischer Random (Chess960) format, ended 2.5:1.5 in favor of the Kazakh grandmaster.…
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic Pledge to Deepen Strategic Alliance and Economic Ties
ALMATY – Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic are continuing to strengthen their bilateral ties, with trade reaching $2 billion and plans to bring it to $3 billion, Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev said during an official visit to Bishkek on Feb. 13. The visit included meetings with President Sadyr Japarov and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek…
Officials Brief Kazakhstan-Based Diplomatic Community on Draft Constitution
ALMATY – The revisions of Kazakhstan’s Сonstitution reflect over 84% changes compared to the existing text, said Constitutional Court Chairperson Elvira Azimova as she briefed the diplomatic corps on the proposed amendments on Feb. 16. Open and inclusive process Azimova highlighted the transparency and inclusiveness of the process, contrasting it with earlier reform periods. “We…
Livestock Market Consolidation Tool Unveiled at Dala.Camp Forum in Burabai
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s livestock sector took a step toward market consolidation and higher-value exports as the Turan Livestock Association launched a pilot digital platform aimed at coordinating the country’s fragmented live cattle market during the international Dala.Camp Forum held on Feb. 14–15 in Burabai. The forum brought together 250 delegates from 11 countries, including Kazakhstan,…
Living Art: How Kazakh Nomads Weave Meaning into Every Object
ALMATY – Art was never separate from life for the nomads of the Kazakh steppe. It lived in the objects of everyday life, from textiles to horse gear and jewelry, shaped by use as much as by beauty. In Kazakh culture, even a home could be understood as a work of art. That idea is…
Aral Sea Shows Signs of Recovery as Water Levels Rise
ALMATY – The North Aral Sea is slowly coming back to life and with it, renewed hope for the thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on its waters. A recent television report by Almaty.tv captured not only rising water levels, but also the voices of fishermen and villagers who see the sea’s recovery as a…
Foreign Investment in Tajikistan Surges 35% in 2025
ALMATY – Foreign investment in Tajikistan reached $6.93 billion in 2025, marking a 35% increase compared to the previous year, reported the Kazinform news agency on Feb. 11. It was announced during a press conference by Chairman of the State Committee for Investment and State Property Management of Tajikistan Sulton Rahimzoda, who emphasized that foreign…
ALEM Tech Fest Brings Central Asia’s Young Innovators to Astana
ALMATY – ALEM TECH FEST 2026, the largest robotics, artificial intelligence and STEM education festival in Central Asia, opened at the EXPO International Exhibition Center in Astana on Feb. 11, bringing together 5,000 school students from seven countries. Held as part of Kazakhstan’s Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, the festival runs through Feb. 13…
Draft Constitution Sets July 1 Entry Into Force if Approved
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s proposed new Constitution would make a political transition starting July 1, including the end of the current Parliament’s mandate, if voters endorse the reforms in a national referendum on March 15. Under the draft, the day the new Constitution is adopted would be declared a state holiday. The document also stipulates that…
Kazakhstan Wins Gold and Silver at UAE SWAT Challenge 2026
ALMATY – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has congratulated the country’s special forces units on Feb. 12, following their standout performance at the UAE SWAT Challenge 2026 international competition in Dubai, where Kazakh teams secured both first and second place overall. Team Kazakhstan C was declared the absolute winner of the prestigious tournament, while Kazakhstan A…
Kazakhstan, Germany Push Deeper Economic and Energy Cooperation at C5+1 Meeting in Berlin
ALMATY – Germany has described Kazakhstan as a key political and economic partner in Central Asia, as Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Feb. 11 in Berlin ahead of the C5+1 format talks. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across political, economic, and sustainable…
US Eyes Up to $700 Million for Kazakhstan Tungsten Project to Bolster Supply Chains
ALMATY – The United States’ International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has issued letters of interest exploring up to $700 million in financing for a tungsten mining project in Kazakhstan, the U.S. Embassy’s press service reported on Feb. 11. The potential financing would support Cove Kaz Capital Group’s investment in the Severniy Katpar Tungsten Mine, one…
Kazakhstan Positioned as Key Link in Eurasian Trade Routes at US Policy Event
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s growing strategic role in the development of the Middle Corridor and broader Eurasian connectivity was highlighted during a presentation of an analytical report at the National Press Club in Washington on Feb. 10, reported the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The report focused on Eurasia’s transit potential, including the Middle Corridor and the…
Kazakhstan Aims to Attract Quality Investments to Drive High-Tech Growth
ASTANA – Kazakhstan must develop a comprehensive strategy to attract new, high-quality investments to build modern, high-tech industries, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a Feb. 10 government meeting. “Development institutions must build effective relationships with business and the financial sector, based not on competition but on mutual partnership,” he said, adding that as inflation stabilizes,…
Starlink Launches Satellite Internet Service in Tajikistan
ALMATY – Satellite internet provider Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has officially launched operations in Tajikistan, as it was announced on Feb. 5 on the company’s X page. The expansion represents another step in the company’s growing footprint across Central Asia and the broader CIS region. Starlink is already operational in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and several…
Khorgos Gateway Boosts Transit Capacity, Handles Over 372,000 TEUs in 2025
ALMATY – The Khorgos Gateway Dry Port in Kazakhstan’s special economic zone handled more than 372,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, marking a 2% increase compared to 2024, according to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ). The dry port continues to strengthen its role as a key transshipment hub linking China with Europe and Central Asia,…
Kazakhstan Kicks Off 2026 Winter Olympics with 36 Athletes in Milan
ALMATY – The 2026 Winter Olympic Games officially open today, Feb. 6, in Milan-Cortina, Italy, with Kazakhstan ready to highlight its winter sports talents in front of a worldwide audience. The opening ceremony will be broadcast live at 12 a.m. Astana time on Feb. 7 on Qazsport, Qazaqstan, Jibek Joly, and Khabar channels, reported the…
Kazakhstan Highlights Critical Minerals Potential at Conference in US
ALMATY – Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev took part in the first conference on critical minerals on Feb. 4 in Washington, the United States, at the invitation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring Kazakhstan’s growing role in strengthening global supply chains for strategically important resources. Discussions focused on enhancing international cooperation in the extraction,…
Air Astana Launches Ticket Sales for Seasonal Flights to Cyprus
ALMATY – Air Astana has opened ticket sales for direct seasonal flights to Cyprus as part of its summer 2026 schedule. From June through September, the airline will operate regular services to Larnaca from both Astana and Almaty, reported the Civil Aviation Committee on Feb. 2. Flights from Astana will run from June 2 to…
OPEC+ Countries Pause Supply Hikes, Reaffirm Flexible Production Strategy
ALMATY – Eight OPEC+ member countries have reaffirmed their commitment to oil market stability, citing a steady global economic outlook and healthy market fundamentals reflected in relatively low inventories. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman held a virtual meeting on Feb. 1 to review current market conditions and…
Kazakhstan and France Deepen Scientific Cooperation in Nuclear Research
ALMATY – A Kazakh delegation, led by the Chairman of the Kazakh Agency for Atomic Energy Almasadam Satkaliyev has visited the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) international research centers in Grenoble, France. Representatives of Kazakhstan’s Institute of Nuclear Physics also took part in the trip. During the visit to ESRF,…
Kazakhstan Expects No Annual Losses from Tengiz Downtime, Says Energy Minister
ALMATY – Kazakhstan does not expect to incur losses on an annual basis despite the recent production halt at the Tengiz oil field, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said while commenting on the consequences of the incident during a Jan. 28 briefing. According to the minister, current losses amount to about 900,000 tons of oil. However,…
